Rumour, Law and Elegy: Considerations on Propertius 2.7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14195/1984-249X_15_5Keywords:
Rumour, Adultery Law 28 BC, Propertius, elegy 2.7, reality and fictionAbstract
This paper investigates the relationship between historical reality and personae poeticae as fiction in Propertius 2.7. Besides its poetic value, this elegy shows us precisely the border between reality and fiction in which Roman elegy is situated. On the one hand, we observe the personae poeticae as fictional constructions, and, on the other hand, we can glimpse referential aspects of the Roman society of this period. Nevertheless, the personaemay be impregnated with real characteristics as well, since we can neither deny the historical existence of Propertius, Maecenas and Augustus, nor that historical events may be nuanced by rumour, which can be considered as a rhetorical kind of proof.
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